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UNIT D STATES PATENT OFFICE.

WILLIAM E. T. MERRILL, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR TOWILLIAM H. HART, JR, OF SAME PLACE.

RETAINER FOR THE BANDS OF NECKSCARFS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 316,289, dated April21, 1885.

Application filed February 20, 1885. No modeLl To a whom, it mayconcern.-

Be it known that I, WILLIAM E. T. MER- RILL, a citizen of the UnitedStates, residing in the city and county of Philadelphia, State ofPennsylvania, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Retainers orHolders for the Bands of Neckscarfs, which improvement is fully setforth in the following specification and accompanying drawings, in whichFigures 1 and 2 represent views of opposite sides of a retainer orholder for the band of a neckscarf embodying my invention. Fig. 3represents a view looking upwardly from the bottom edge of that shown inFig. 1.

Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in theseveralfigures.

My invention relates to an improvement in the class of retainers orholders for the bands of necktie-scarfs for which Letters Patent of theUnited States No. 301,065 were granted to me on the 24th day of June, A.D. 188%, there being shown in said patent a fork which is employed inlieu of the well-known pin.

The invention consists of the peculiar construction of the fork, wherebyits cutting action on the band is obviated.

Referring to the drawings, A represents the shield or support ofanecksoarfof well known form.

B represents a retainer or holder for the band of the scarf whenadjusted on the neck of the wearer, the same being constructed of aplate of metal or other suitable material, with clips or prongs forattachment to the shield, and aslit extending inwardly from one side ofthe plate, forming a fork or jaws, O, to receive and hold the neckband.

The walls ofthejaws Gare somewhat curved, or may be angular, and theircrowns a a project toward each other, and the lower jaw is set back,forming a passage for the introduction of the neckband between thecrowns of the two jaws. The inner end of the slit forming the jaws isrounded, so that a sharp and cutting angle is avoided at said end.

It will be seen that when the neckband is drawn through the head of thescarf it passes between the retainer B and the front of said head. It isthen tightened and drawn laterally adjacent to said retainer, andinserted between thejaws 0, it being noticed that the band passes aroundthe bottom of the upper jaw, and then upwardly around the top of thelower jaw, and then downwardly against the outer face of said lower jaw,it being noticed that the band is somewhat bent by its contact with thecrowns of the two jaws, thus producing a bight whereby the band issecurely held, the upward or return draft on the band causing the lowerjaw to be drawn more tightly toward the lower jaw, thus increasing theholding action of the jaws on said band.

It will also be seen that the space at the in.- ner termination of theslit forming the jaws is rounded and enlarged, so that the jaws have noappreciable holding action at said place.

In lieu of clips for fastening the retainer to the shield, I may piercethe plate for purposes of stitching or riveting, or employ other means.

When the band is to be released, the portion engaged with the retaineris moved laterally so as to clear the jaws thereof, and the band maythen be withdrawn through the head of the scarf.

I am aware that it is not new to form a retainer of a plate having aV-shaped recess, the

angle of which serves to bite the neckband, but the sharpness of theangle cuts the band and materially injures the same, this being avoidedby the construction of the jaws O C, as before stated. 7

Having thus described my invention, what [claim as new, and desire tosecure by Letters Patent, is-

1. An improved retainer or holder for a neckscarf, consisting of a plateprovided with two jaws, the said jaws having crowns which project towardeach other, and are adapted to bite or hold theband of the scarf,substantially as described.

2. In a retainer or, holder for a neckscarf having jaws G G, the slitforming said jaws being rounded on its inner end, substantially asdescribed.

W. E. T. MERRILL.

Witnesses:

J OHN A. WIEDERSHEIM, A. P. GRANT.

